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Perhaps we will hear from those who argue that Microsoft's "free software" code contributions are "good for the cause".

Of course that would only be true if the "cause" happens to be "sell more Windows Server licenses"

Well guess what? The reason for any company to contribute to the Linux kernel is to further their own buisness. I think people are too hung up on Microsoft - probably because they think of it as the company it was late 90s early 00s. In fact, Microsoft may still be big but their strangle hold on the comuting world is over and their relevance is diminishing. I believe that in a couple of years Microsoft will be seen as IBM - still a big company but a once-was company.

Linux needs economy

Well guess what? The reason for any company to contribute to the Linux kernel is to further their own business.

Exactly. Linux really has only one true ceiling to break: economy.

There are more developers out there than people realize who are more than willing to develop for Linux, but they don't believe that they will be able to put food on the family table with it.

Likewise, more businesses need to be shown that Linux can and will further their business goals. Companies like Google(Android) and Red Hat, and many others have proven that this is indeed possible. Heck, this HyperV driver is a small example of that. We just need to make this idea more common. I do, of course, realize it's much easier said than done.

Valve hopefully could be the one that truely breaks the glass. If a mainstream gaming company can be profitable in Linux, then it's just a matter of expansion upon the idea that yes, this is a profitable sector of the market.